Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityC. the Informant helps the rebels escape

Bartal Kreetos looked up from the conversation he was having with Yoric to see Rand being tossed like a rag doll by a large Wookie who had brown fur with white highlights. Out of instinct, the Mon Calamari reached for his blaster but before he could do so a clawed Wookie hand grabbed him by the front of the cloak Yoric had given him to wear back in the docking bay.

Before he could react, Bartal found himself against the liquor collection lying next to Rand who was dazed but starting to stir. Kreetos shook his head to regain his composure and reached into his cloak for his blaster but was surprised to see that under his cloak was a data pad that had not been there previously. Discreetly he looked down at the data pad and saw that the only content on the data pad was a location--one that wasn't far from where they were at currently.

Kreetos stood up and extended his right arm to help Rand return to his feet. As the two stood up they were greeted by Yoric flying through the air and landing next to them while the rest of the cantina seemed to be in differing stages of a brawl. Kreetos leaned over and helped Yoric to his feet, "We need to get out of here."

"Aren't you the observant fishy," Yoric said as the Mon Calamari helped him back to his feet. "Even during a bar fight you are a smart ass," Kreetos retorted and motioned for his two associates to follow him as he made his way through the mob of brawlers out the back door of the cantina.

"What about the Noghri?" Rand asked as they approached the exit. "I say leave him, we don't even know who he is," Yoric added. Kreetos looked around but Naso was no where to be found. The blue skinned Mon Calamari shook his head slightly, "Something tells me our Noghri friend knows how to take care of himself and will be able to find us."

"Speaking of finding us, where exactly are we going?" Yoric chimed in as the three passed through the rear exit of the cantina. Bartal handed the pirate the data pad, "This was under my cloak when I landed on the floor."

"Great so you want to go to a location written on a data pad that was slipped to you during a bar fight?" Yoric snapped. "You aren't as smart as I thought fishy."

As the trio moved toward the location, which was a run down building whose windows were broken and appears to have become a haven for the homeless vagrants of this section of town. "Yeah great thinking Fishy, this is certainly the best location on Nar Shaddaa to find out about your problem," Yoric chided.

The group turned as they heard a Wookie roar behind them. Turning around they saw the Wookie from the bar fight standing behind them. Yoric reached for his blaster but Kretos raised a hand for him to stop.

"He is our informant," Kreetos said as the Wookie began speaking in his native tongue. "He says he apologizes for his methods but his sources told him that the Imperials have landed in the city and our presence in such a public place would have been too dangerous," Rand translated.

The Wookie, who identified himself as Taruk through Rand's translation, motioned for the group to follow him into the run down structure.

A. The group discover that the location is really a rebel cell on Nar Shaddaa
B. Stormtroopers descend on the scene and a fight breaks out
C. Taruk shows them a sample of the poison the Empire is using

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityA. The group discover that the location is really a rebel cell on Nar Shaddaa

"This places smells like Hutt outhouse," Yoric muttered as the entered the abandon building and were greeted by an unpleasant smell. The abandoned structure was littered with trash and old storage crates, many of which had caved in on themselves. "Probably some dead bodies under the boxes. Nasty business goes on around here. But I don't need to tell you that."

Taruk ignored Yoric and led the group to the back of the building. The wookie placed its large paws on the rusting metal wall and began to feel it up and down, searching for something. It growled triumphantly when part of the metal wall suddenly slid backwards and to the side, revealing a passage into the neighboring building.

"What's he up to?" Yoric whispered to Kreetos, fingering his blaster trigger.

"I think we're safe," Kreetos reassured the pirate. The Mon Calamarian quickly entered the passage after Taruk, leaving Yoric and Rand outside. The pirate looked at the pilot and sighed, following the two aliens in after. Rand shrugged and followed suit.

Within a minute the group emerged on the other side of the passage which appeared to lead not into, but under the neighboring buildings. Taruk pressed a keypad on the wall as the reached a certain point, and another door slid open. Yoric raised his eyebrows at the sight. Computers, crates of supplies, weapons, and all sorts of equipment appeared with a dozen rebels among them. Several greeted Taruk and Kreetos and others stared at their screens, lost in some mission or code.

"This is the rebel cell of Nar Shadda," Kreetos said to his companions as Taruk moved into the small base.

"So I see," Yoric muttered, walking in.

~

A) Taruk explains the situation and shows a sample of the poison and its effects

B) Taruk informs the group of a mission his cell is about to under take concerning the Imperial poison

C) Stormtroopers investigate the area and the cell prepares for a fight

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityC) Stormtroopers investigate the area and the cell prepares for a fight

As the group was shown the hidden base a young woman ran in breathing heavy as she tried to catch her breath. Rand moved his free hand down to his blaster as another woman approached the younger woman.

"Stormtroopers are in the area," The woman announced causing everyone to get armed and ready for a battle. Rand pulled his blaster from his holster to check its power. A fire fight with a devision of Storm Troopers wasn't part of the mission as far as he was concerned. He was a pilot he would be much happier in the cockpit of an X Wing fighter.

"They're investigating the area," a young man replied from next to him. "They do it all the time."

"Ok everyone, let's remain calm," Kreetos said taking a step forward. "What we don't need here is to alert the Empire to our presence here. If they patrol routinely, its likely they aren't looking for us specifically and will move by unless we make a move to alert them to us."

"Way to take control there Fishy," Yoric said with a smirk.

Bartal Kreetos shook his head slightly and turned to Taruk, "My apologies Taruk, this is your operation--I didn't mean to overstep my bounds."

Taruk replied in Wookie and Rand translated, "Taruk says he appreciates your input and since you are the highest ranking member of the rebellion here, it technically was your call and he was not offended in the least."

"Well aren't you good at making friends there Fishy!" Yoric snided again.

The girl who came running in sat down at one of the stations. Taruk pointed to her and continued in Wookie with Rand translating, "Taruk says this is Private Sperinor or 'Skittles' one of the cell's resident computer technicians. Taruk says she has infaltrated one of the Imperial main frames on the planet and has acquired some information about the virus."

"Private Sperinor, can you share with us what you have learned of this biological element?" Kreetos asked.

A. Skittles explains what she has discovered
B. Stormtroopers burst through the door
C. An explosion happens inside the nearby cantina they came from

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityA. Skittles explains what she has discovered

The girl spun around in her chair. She was nothing special appearance-wise. In fact, she was quite plain. Brown hair of an undetermined length pulled up in a bun. Brown eyes, and pale skin. She was wearing a set of coveralls and work-boots with what appeared to be a fitted sleeveless shirt underneath. She had no weapon on her, even though everyone else in the room was armed. She was short, even for a human female. It was the only other thing distinctive about her.

“Please, Lieutenant, call me Skittles.” She smiled, and everyone else in the room seemed to smirk, like they were sharing some joke. “I’m just a tech. I hack Imperial systems, keep the computers running, information flowing, and do some ship repair on the side. I’m not military. Never will be.”

Yoric swaggered up, got down on one knee to be eye-level with her, and held out a hand. The woman offered her own and he kissed it. “My lady, I am Captain Yoric of the Royal Joker. I am most pleased to make your acquaintance.” He continued to hold her hand as he looked up and made eye contact, “So rare to find a delicate flower in a place such as this. I shall enjoy our time together as one enjoys a summer’s day, and remembers the warmth well into the deepest of Winters.”

She blushed and smiled, not breaking eye contact, “Likewise Captain. I’ve worked on Corellian ships before; they are so customizable that the ships tend to take on the personalities of their owners.” She winked, “I would love to see your ship sometime, Captain.”

He let go of her hand again and stepped back, removing his hat and bowing to her, “I believe that can be arranged my dear.”

The lieutenant brushed past the place Yoric had perched and whispered, “laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”

Yoric shrugged and smiled, “She merely wants to see my ship, I have done nothing wrong.”

He turned to the girl, “And I am Lieutenant Bartal Kreetos.”

“Nice to meet ya sir.” She smiled and gave him a half-hearted sloppy salute.

“Alright,” he paused, “Skittles.” She nodded, “Why don’t you tell us what you found?”

“I’d love to.” She leaned back in her chair and got comfortable. “So, my team was able to hack the Imperial medical base. Not easy, but we’ve been working on it for a while. I took lead and we got general information about their other biological weapon plans. We sorted the data and discovered that the new agent is being called J-13. We were able to steal the research information for J-13 including the atomic structure and the mode of infection.” She casually kicked her legs up on the chair next to her.

“I have already sent that information to the medical corps to start work on an antiviral.” She smiled, “The current threat was the only one we were able to fully grab before we were detected and run out of the system.” Her smile faded a bit, “But, I hope that since we have been there once, and seen the security, we can go in and grab other information later.”

“But if you were detected how can you go back later?” Rand asked leaning on a console.

“I covered our tracks.” She grinned, “Anybody can get into a system, but the sign of a master is getting back out. I just have to wait a while before I can go back in; from this location anyway.”

Lt. Kreetos turned one of the empty chairs around and sat down. “Were you able to get anything at all about where the agent is being held, or the distribution plans?”

She wilted just a little. “No. It wasn’t in the system we hacked. Although I think I know where it is, there was a mention about the distribution plans, and stockpile locations in the data. It noted a pointer to a specific chunk of data in their intelligence database. But I can’t hack it from here; this location is too hot. I need to go someplace else in order to go back into the system to keep this location secret. I think it was the inquiry to the intelligence system that alerted them to our presence. Going from the medical database to the intelligence one must have put up a flag somewhere.”

Kreetos stood up and started pacing; “Can you get that information?”

She smiled and shook her head, piece of hair falling from the bun, “Not from here.” She tucked the stray hair behind her ear.

“If we can get you to another computer terminal, can you get back in and get the distribution plans?” Rand asked stepping up to the Lieutenant, catching on to the plan.

She paled slightly, but remained sitting. “Yes, I think so. If I have my gear I can probably get back on from just about anywhere.”

“We need somewhere to bring her so she can get back into the system” Kreetos turned to the pirate, “Since your job is to ease our passage here, I am going to assume you can find us somewhere appropriate?”

Yoric smiled, “Of course Fishy. I know plenty of places to bring a woman on this moon.”

Kreetos sighed, “I am sure you do, but do you know a place where she can hack from?”

Yoric got a devilish smile on his face, “Of course. I have places set aside for both business, and pleasure.”

“What about the patrols?” Skittles asked drawing attention back to herself. She had folded herself up in the chair and put her chin on her knees. Suddenly she looked like a scared little girl, instead of the confident woman they had seen previously.

“Don’t worry about the patrols my dear. I know my way around this moon like I know my way around my own ship.” He bowed deeply once again flourishing his hat. “You shall be safe with us.”

She bit her lip and nodded. She whispered under her breath, “In for a penny, in for a pound.” She stood and Yoric took her arm.

“That’s the spirit.” He led her from the room. “Let’s gather your gear and do a little crime, shall we?”

A. Yoric leads them to a secure location
B. Yoric leads them into a trap (Thought I would give a chance to have Yoric compromised, as was hinted at in the beginning. This would be a good place to do it before they are able to “find him out” through the [sign in to see URL] a thought.)
C. The base is compromised before they can leave

LS

--- "The lord of the rings trilogy restored balance to the force after the Star Wars prequels ruined everything that was awesome about being a nerd at the movies." Wil Wheton, I Love the New Milenium, 2003

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityC. The base is compromised before they can leave.

~~~

The small rebel cell suddenly turned chaotic as Kreetos' group readied themselves to depart. Yoric paced around as Kreetos and Rand checked and rechecked weapons and hid them on their persons. It was no small feat to walk around on Nar Shaddaa, but the team was even more at risk with Imperials constantly scouring the area.

"You think you've counted your ammo enough?" Yoric groaned, leaning back in a chair and spinning around slowly. "Skittles here was ready to go ten minutes ago. I don't know about Mon Cal, but usually it's the human girls that take forever."

"This isn't a field trip," Kreetos responded as he slipped a blaster into a cloak. Each rebel had been handed a cloak to hide their weapons and identity. Yoric had refused one, saying that he was indisguise already with a flamboyant spinning of his gaudy hat. "We may or may not need to find out where the Imperials are. If we have to go to them to find the virus, then we need to be well armed and prepared."

"I'm always prepared," Yoric replied. He leapt up from the chair and walked to the door. "It's time to go!" He artfully snatched Skittles by her arm and walked out of the cell. "C'mon fishy!"

“You know Skittles, this isn’t the first rebel cell that’s been on Nar Shaddaa,” Yoric said as the group moved up the stairs. “I remember back a few years around the time of the whole Yavin 4 thing that there were a few of you crusaders snooping around here. They didn’t fare so well though. If I remember, they had to get off the planet in a big hurry.”

“What happened?” Skittles asked nervously.

“I don’t know the details, but I hear it involved a gamorrean, a dozen blaster rifles, some hutt falling down the stairs, an-“

“Open the door,” Kreetos snapped irritably. “We can reminisce later, but we have a mission to do.” He turned to look down the stairs. “Taruk! What’s the code for the door?”

The wookie barked up the numbers one by one, which Yoric dutifully punched in with several colorful words concerning the Mon Calimarian race’s parentage. The doors slid open with a snap.

"Halt!" Two dozen rifles turned towards Yoric instantly, bringing him and the entire doorway into sights. Over a dozen stormtroopers littered the area outside the warehouse. A pair of skiffs hovered near them, filled with even more of the white clad troopers. “Do not move!”

"Hello!" He grinned, bowing slightly. As he did, he pushed Skittles backwards with his foot, forcing the rebels back down the stairs.

"Explain yourself," a trooper with a yellow insignia barked.

"I'm taking a walk! Here, I'll show you my ID," Yoric said, reaching into his vest and pulling out a round object.

"Put your hands behind your head and step out of the stairwell!"

"Don't be rude!" Yoric threw the object down at his feet and shielded his eyes. Small explosions and lights suddenly filled the stairway and the warehouse, accompanied by the surprised yells of the stormtroopers. Yoric quickly slid the warehouse door shut and ran down the stairs.

"Seems there might be a bit of technical difficulty!"

"Not one I can fix," Skilltes said nervously, moving to slip behind Taruk as she eyed the door.

"I'm sure you could with enough time!" Yoric laughed. "It seems this little operation has been cut short. I think we'd be make our escape through the nearest secret exit! You have one, don't you?"

Taruk mournfully shook his head with a long sigh. He turned to Kreetos and shrugged helplessly.

"Oh," Yoric's smile faltered as he considered their bleak options.

~

A. The Stormtroopers break down the door and open fire on the rebel cell

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityC. The rebel cell makes their own exit

"Well it would be suicide to fight them here," Rand spoke up as the sounds of Stormtroopers trying to get through the door rang through the room.

Looking around the room he could see everyone getting ready for a fight.

"Whats under the floor?" Rand figured by now the building would be surrounded. The only ways out would be up or down.

"The sewers?" Rand repeated Taruk's reply for everyone to hear. "Thats the best we have to do then. Premission to blow a hole in the floor."

"Granted," Kreetos answered

Grabbing a thermal detonator, he set it on the floor and went for cover as the bomb went off opening a 6 foot hole in the floor. Pulling a couple more grenades he tossed a couple, one in each direction, and waited for them to explode. "Here we go."

A. The rebels escape into the sewers
B. Stormtroopers brake in as the rebels escape
C. The rebels run into bounty hunters in the sewers

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityA. The rebels escape into the sewers

“Well it certainly smells lovely down there doesn’t it,” Yoric said staring down the hole that Rand created with the thermal detonators. “It doesn’t look like we have much of a choice though,” Kreetos replied looking over his shoulder toward where Yoric had blasted the stormtroopers. “You slowed them down but they’ll be back and with greater numbers.”

“How far of a drop do you estimate it is?” Kreetos asked looking at Rand. “It looks like about fifteen feet, we should be able to make that jump unscathed.” Kreetos looked around, “Alright then, Rand go down first and secure the location. Taruk, we need to evacuate your people here and just as important we need to take Private Sperinor’s gear so that we can complete this mission.” Taruk barked a reply and then headed back into headquarters shouting orders in his native tongue.

“We’re secure down here Lt.” Rand called from down in the sewer. “Yoric, if you would be so kind as to escort Skittles down into the sewer.” Yoric moved his eyepatch from his left eye to his right and replied, “Not where I usually take a fine lady but circumstances dictate it so I must.” Kreetos rolled his bulbous eyes as Yoric took Skittles by the hand and led her down the make shift sewer entrance. “Taruk, what’s the status of your people and the equipment.”

In the Wookie language Taruk explained that he had organized the foot soldiers into two groups, one that was headed directly to the sewers to scout ahead in case the stormtroopers caught on to their plan. Before he could finish explaining that, Kreetos saw two dozen of armed rebel soldiers making their way into the sewers. Taruk continued that he organized another squad that was going to take up the rear in case the imperials made their way into the cell and attacked. “And what of the equipment for Skittles,” Kreetos asked somewhat impatient. Taruk raised a clawed hand and pointed toward a rebel soldier who was carrying several bags full of computer equipment. As the soldier came closer, Kreetos could make out the features of a tall, dark haired male in his early twenties with a lean muscular build. “Griss?” Kreetos said with some bewilderment in his voice.

The young man looked up, “Lt. Kreetos!” and went to salute but was unable to due to the amount of equipment he was carrying. “Don’t worry about it and let me help you with that,” the Mon Calimari said as he helped the young man down through the hole into the sewer along with Taruk. “Of all the people I’d expect to find on Nar Shadaa, you were the last one, Griss.”

“Well after the mission I was on with you, I got reassigned to the cell her on Nar Shadaa and we’ve been working on tracking down this virus. Its not my normal gig, not enough action you know but its been alright.” Kreetos chuckled, “Well it looks like the action has found us again.”

As Kreetos, Griss, and Taruk made their way into the sewer they found that Rand and the other rebel soldiers had set up and secured a perimeter around the entrance they created in the sewer. “One squad of soldiers has gone ahead and has reported no suspicious Imperial activity,” Rand reported. “Alright then, Taruk, you might as well have the rest of your squads come down here and take up the rear and close in the perimeter,” Kreetos said.

As Taruk barked an acknowledgement, the Mon Calamari turned to Yoric, “Ok pirate, lead on. You said you knew where we could get to a secure location to finish this mission.”

A. The sewer is rocked with shots from Imperial Stormtroopers
B. A sewer creature comes out and attacks them
C. They make their way to the safe house

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunityA. The sewer is rocked with shots from Imperial Stormtroopers

Griss was slightly taken aback by the arrival of Lt. Kreetos, his former ally and friend from a previous mission, although it was still good to see the old Mon Cal. However the same could not be said of the wiley Captain Yoric. They never seemed to get along at the best of times, and wherever Yoric was, so was trouble.

As if the fates had pre-determined it the sewer began to rock. The Imps were back.

"Hey Lieutenant, you sure Yoric knows where he is going?" Griss looked ahead past the group to find Yoric studying what appeared to be wall patterns.
"I'm not confident his moss reading technique is quite what we need."
Laserfire began to pour down the sewer forcing Griss to dump his computer equipment and datapads and retrieve his blaster from his belt, loosing a couple of shots as the familar white-clad figures began pouring round the corner.
The other members of Kreetos' team did likewise, giving Griss the opportunity to take stock of his situation. Yoric was still ambling around the sewer passage, seemingly unfazed as red beams poured over his head.
The situation was growing worse, more and more stormtroopers were pouring into the sewer, and the Rebels were beginning to be pushed back, albeit in the direction they wanted to go.
"Dammit Yoric, where are we going?" Griss demanded.
Yoric just smiled, switching his eye patch from one eye to the other.
"To sanctuary of course."

A. Stormtroopers begin to pour in from the opposite direction, trapping the team.
B. The group manages to make it to the Rebel safehouse.
C. The sewer collapses.

Re: Across the Stars: Imperial ImmunitySkittles took a deep breath and followed along with the rest of the group. They moved down the sewer dodging debris as they went. Boxes, old equipment, and some barrels of suspicious contents littered the tunnel.

She had never been outside of a safe place without someone specifically watching her. Her latest handler had been a wookie named Hunter. He had been killed a few weeks ago. Apparently a bounty hunter had mistaken him for someone else, because his body was returned to them 2 days later with a note.

She knew she should remind Turak of her little ‘problem’, but she didn’t want to bother him. There was a reason whenever she left the building she had a babysitter. She was terrified of weapons. Blasters, slug-throwers, grenades, they all terrified her. She had tried to get over it, but somehow she just wasn’t able to.

The first few weeks she had joined the rebellion they tried to get her past her fears, nothing worked. She even almost killed herself once trying to get away when they handcuffed her to a post next to a man using a blaster. They figured if she couldn’t go anywhere, she’d get used to it eventually. She had dislocated her shoulder, ripped all of the skin on her wrist open, broke her ankle kicking the post, and then grabbed the nearest sharp object and tried to remove the handcuffs by cutting off her own hand. She didn’t remember any of that, but she spent a week in medical recovering.

After that, they just assigned her a ‘handler’. It was a different person at every location. Usually a wookie, or other large humanoid, just to be sure that if she froze they could carry her, and still fight.

Her nickname came from it. She was so skittish around guns, that they started calling her skittles. Everyone in the rebellion carried a weapon, but she flinched every time she even saw one.

They kept her around because she was good at what she did. One of the best in the galaxy from what she’s been told. All she knows is that she’s got a talent, and a huge problem, and somebody seems to think that, for now, one outweighs the other.

She tried to stick close to Griss. He was carrying her gear. She had tried to tell him she didn’t need all of that, but he was insistent that they take it all. She had a small pack on her back that held the essentials. With the gear he had, she could hack from anywhere. The stuff she had on her, required a terminal.

A laser shot past her head, and she cringed. She just kept repeating in her mind, “I can do this. I can do this. I can do this”. She took a deep breath and continued forward with the team. She looked around, and everybody was involved in their own thing. Yoric was wandering through trying to find the way. Kreetos was trying to rush him along. The rest were either up ahead scanning for troopers, or returning fire from behind. She didn’t want to bother anybody, so she just tried to keep her racing heart under control. She could feel the panic creeping up on her slowly. It wouldn’t take much to loose the tenuous grip she had on herself. But for now, she was okay. “I can do this”.

“Take cover” someone yelled and suddenly the entire sewer tunnel was filled with laser blasts. She hit the ground and crawled over to a large metal crate. The opening was just big enough for her to crawl through. She didn’t even think about what might be in there. She crawled in and curled up in a ball. Tears were streaming down her face. “I can’t do this”. The sounds of blasters echoed through the tiny space and it sounded like it was coming from everywhere. She closed her eyes, tried to control her breathing, and waited for it to stop.

*****

Yoric just smiled, switching his eye patch from one eye to the other. "To sanctuary of course."

He pressed a panel on the wall with a flourish. Nothing happened. He turned, smiled, and tried again, a little harder. Once again, nothing happened. He started banging on the wall in the same place. He even took out his blaster and shot the spot, nothing.

Griss just looked at him like he had lost his mind. Yoric had always been eccentric, but this took the cake.

He leaned against the wall, and smiled at Griss, when suddenly the wall gave way and a door appeared in the tunnel. “Aah, yes, just a jump to the left. I forgot that part” he mumbled under his breath.

Griss shoved him in and yelled “We’re in, go.” He followed Yoric in to secure the new location.

Rand heard Griss shout and took up a position next to the door. Turak took up the same position on the other side. They provided cover fire for the rest of the team. Rand watched everyone enter the door, counting to make sure everyone was there. He counted, and came up short.

“Someone’s missing.” He said to Turak as the last rebel entered the door.

The wookie thought for a minute, and then made direct eye contact with Rand. He said one word.

Rand cursed under his breath. “Skittles. She isn't with us”. “Lieutenant.” He yelled into the room.

Kreetos came into view through the doorway. “Are you coming in, or are you enjoying the light show?”

“Skittles. She’s not here.”

Kreetos looked around and his face turned pale. He cursed and turned to Turak. “Any idea where she might be?”

Rand translated what the wookie was saying, “She’s terrified of guns. At the first sign of weapons fire she would have either run, or hid. Usually it’s someone’s job to keep an eye on her, but in the confusion I forgot to assign someone to her.”

Kreetos nodded, “Come in, we can’t go get her right now. The tunnel is crawling with troopers.”

Turak planted his feet, but the Lieutenant knew how to deal with stubborn people, he’s had a lot of practice. “No, we can’t, not right now. No matter if she’s hidden, or if she ran away, we won’t find her. Come in and we’ll make a plan to find her once the heat’s off a bit.” Turak didn’t move. “Time for plan B”. “Don’t make me make it an order.”

Turak nodded and moved into the room. He wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t going to disobey a superior officer. Rand nodded and followed the reluctant wookie into the room.

*****

Once she could hear over the sound of her own panicked breathing, and was able to think again, she knew she was in a pickle. She had no idea how long she sat there. It felt like days. Booted feet walking around her safe place. The occasional blaster shot being taken and voices could be heard, but she couldn’t understand them.

She had gotten separated from the group. Her inability to overcome a silly little fear caused her to be separated from her friends, in a place she didn’t know, surrounded by people who wanted to kill her.

“Good job Brea. Now you’ve done it”. She sighed, “The entire rebellion is counting on you, and you go and hide in a box. Way to go.”

She moved slowly and silently. She removed the pack from her back and took out her small handheld com. Not the best thing to have on all the time, and if the troopers out there were looking for signals she would be found right away, but she knew that at least Turak would be worried, once he noticed she was gone.

It took another hour before the noises in the tunnel stopped and she got the courage to peek out of her safe place. It was dark, just a few red emergency lights were showing. She looked, and listened for any sounds, but nothing else seemed to be down here with her.

She had heard from some of the others that giant creatures lived down here, scavengers that would eat anything that came along. It was another world down here, it was dangerous, and she was alone.

She wasn’t sure which way they had come from, and she sure didn’t know which way they were going. She decided to risk the noise and turn on her comm. “Papa Bear, this is Little Kitten, what’s your loc?”

Static was all she heard. She felt like crying. She didn’t know where she was, she didn’t know how to get back, and she was sure she heard a scraping sound coming from behind her.

She checked to be sure she was on the rebellion emergency frequency, “Anybody out there, this is Little Kitten requesting assistance, over.”

Continued in next [sign in to see URL] :/

--- "The lord of the rings trilogy restored balance to the force after the Star Wars prequels ruined everything that was awesome about being a nerd at the movies." Wil Wheton, I Love the New Milenium, 2003